The latest sleep monitoring gadget, the fourth-generation Oura Ring, was launched this week. It is a miniature computer that costs $350 and is meant to be worn on the finger like a piece of jewelry. The interior of the ring comes with small embedded sensors that collect data on vital signs such as heart rate, body temperature, and movement, in an effort to monitor the user’s sleep patterns and identify issues that may cause poor rest.
The new Oura Ring is being released at a time when Americans are increasingly prioritizing sleep, fueling a multibillion-dollar industry dedicated to quality sleep, including mattresses with snore detectors, alarm clocks that simulate sunrise, and cool air fans for beds.
The Oura Ring also functions as a fitness tracker that counts steps and activities such as climbing, boxing, and soccer, putting it in direct competition with exercise devices from companies like Apple, Fitbit, and Garmin.
Oura Labs not only wants you to buy a ring, which can cost up to $500 depending on the color you choose, but also wants you to pay $6 a month for detailed sleep analyses and other services.
What does the ring do?
- It is a stylish fitness tracker that is easy to get the right size.
- It is the most comfortable sleep tracker – get plenty of valuable information about how you slept, how long you slept, and the sleep stages you entered. Each chart is easy to understand, and Oura even explains the data for you, making it easier to track progress.
- Like any other fitness tracker, the Oura Ring has all the technology you need to keep an eye on your health. There is a heart rate tracker, a blood oxygen sensor, a skin temperature sensor, and an accelerometer, all somehow crammed into the small pins on the inside of the ring.
- The Oura Ring can also measure your stress levels throughout the day and alert you when it thinks you may be feeling anxious.
- Using your sleep data, your heart rate variability (HRV), your recovery index (how long it takes your heart to relax and stabilize at night), and your stress levels, the Oura can calculate how well you have recovered from a workout and the state your body is in to face new challenges when you wake up.
What does the ring not do?
- Tracking physical activity practice is limited, especially for weightlifting. So it cannot be your main fitness tracker.
Source: The New York Times and CNN